Burning of liquid fuel in boiler and other furnaces or heating apparatus



June 34H F1925. 1,543,997

G. GIDINO BURNING OF LIQUID FUEL IN BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES OR HEATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12 1924 Patented June 30, 1925.

GIUSEP PE GIDINO, OF WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

BURNING F LIQUID FUEL IN BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES OR HEATING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 12, 1924. Serial No. 749,522.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GIUSEPPE Gnnxo, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at lVestminster, England, have invented Improvements in or Relating to the Burning of Liquid Fuel in Boilers and other Furnaces or Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to enable liquid fuel, as for instance tar oil, fuel oil, and the like, to be completely burnt in a simple, efficient and economical manner in boiler and other furnaces or heating apparatus.

For this purpose, the liquid fuel and air are caused to flow simultaneously and in suitably regulated quantities into a mixing or saturating chamber so as to impinge upon the inner surface of such chamber or a bafile plate therein at an angle thereto so that the mixed stream of liquid fuel and air will be deflected therefrom and effectively broken up and the air caused to become saturated with liquid fuel, the fuel saturated air being discharged as a jet from the front end of the chamber where it is ignited forming a flame that extends from the chamber whilst any liquid fuel not taken up'by the air is drained away from the saturating chamber and returned to a suitable receptacle for reuse.

The liquid fuel is preferably supplied to the saturating chamber in greater quantity than is necessary to saturate the air so as to ensure that the air shall be saturated with fuel and produce a perfectly combustible mixture of fuel and air, the excess of liquid fuel being drained away. from the said chamber as' -stated. Both the liquid fuel 40 and the air are supplied to the saturating chamber under pressure and preferably in a heated condition. Satisfactory results have been attained by heating both the liquid fuel and air to a temperature of about 180 F., the liquid fuel being supplied at a pressure of about ten to twelve pounds to the square inch and the air at a pressure of from about ten to fourteen pounds tothe square inch. The invention however is not limited to the temperature and pressures mentioned, which are given only by way of example. The liquid fuel may be supplied from an overhead tank to the saturating chamber through a pipe provided with a regulating valve and the air with the accompanying air so that effective saturation of the latter with liquid fuel to produce a completely combustible mixture shall be ensured.

The saturating chamber can variously be constructed to admit of the liquid fuel and the air being admitted thereto and intimately intermingled with one another for the purpose set forth.

In the accompanying illustrated drawings, Fig. 1 shows in central vertical section, one construction of apparatus embodying the invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are sections of the saturating chamber on the line IIII and I IIIII respectively of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows in end view, a portion of the saturating chamber. Fig. 5 is a detail View showing a cleaning device.

In this example, a is the saturating chamber which may, as shown. advantageously be made of elongated oval shape in longitudinal section with a contracted inlet a at its rear end for admission of the liquid fuel andlair, a contracted outlet 0. at the front end for exitvof the air saturated with liquid fuel, and at an intermediate portion of its length, and at its lower side, with an outlet (1 for connection to a drain pipe, for conducting any surplus liquid fuel to a liquid fuel tank or receptacle from which it can be pumped for re-use. The inlet a may, as in the example now. being described, be provided with arearwardly extending downwardly directed pipe 6 forming a branch or extension of the chamber a to which the free end of an air supply pipe 0, provided with a controlling valve 0, is secured by a screw coupling 03. c is a liquid fuel supply pipe which for part of its length is arranged centrally within the air supply pipe I) and projects beyond the outlet end thereof andinto the chamber a. The pipe 6 is provided outside the pipe I) with a controlling valve The pipe I) may be jointed to the rear end of the chamber a so that its angular position in, relation thereto can be varied to suit varying requirements. For this purpose, its inner end portion may, as shown, be provided with a spherical extension 6 mounted in a two part bearingv f f, a packing ring g being arranged between .them. Within the rear end portion of the chamber a is fixed a baflie plate It having a concave lower surface directed in a forward and downward direction. The arrangement is such that air issuing from the air supply pipe 6 and liquid fuel issuing from ."the liquid fuel supply pipe 6 will be projected at an angle to and against the lower concave surface of the baflle plate h from which it will be deflected forwardly and downwardly against the bottom of the chamber a, whereby a very effective inter-mingling of the, liquid fuel and air will take place and come plete saturation of the air with liquid fuel and production of a completely combustible mixture of fuel and air will be ensured. The forward end of the saturating chamber a is of gradually decreasing cross sectional area and terminates in the central outlet or nozzle. a through which the fuel saturated air escapes in the form of a continuous stream into a combustion chamber or furnace in which it is burnt. The drain outlet a may advantageously be formed in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined branch or extension a, adapted at its lower outer end to admit of adrain pipe 71 being detachably secured thereto, as for instance by a screw coupling is. The inner end of the drain outlet or may advantageously be covered by a baffle plate m of sheet metal arranged to admit of surplus liquid fuel flowing away to the drain outlet between it and the lower inner surface of the chamber a. The drain pipe 6 is provided with a regulating valve 5 and extends into a sealed tank, or into an open tank the height of the liquid fuel in which is sufficientto prevent air escapin from the chamber a through the drain pipe without liquid fuel.

The saturating chamber a may, as shown, advantageously be divided transversely into two portions adapted to be detachably connected together as by bolts extending through flanges n thereon and provided with nuts. The forward portion of the said chamber may be provided with an outwardly extending flange 0 to admit of its being readily attached to the end wall 1" of a combustion chamber or furnace with the forward or nozzle end of the saturating chamber projecting into the combustion chamber or furnace. To admit of the chamber being easily and quicklyattached to and detached from the furnace'end wall 1", the flange 0 may be 7 formed with hooklike portions 9, adapted by a turning movement, to be connected to or disconnected from screw pins 8 fixed to the wall r and provided with nuts 25. The

an inlet a for liquid fuel and air of about one inch in diameter and an outlet aperture a of about seven sixteenths of an inch in diameter for fuel saturated air. mensions are' however given by way of example only.

With a chamber a of about the dimensions mentioned, the apparatus can be worked as follows. The regulating valves e and i on the liquid fuel inlet pipe 0 and drain outlet pipe 71 respectively. are closed and air at a pressure of about ten pounds to the square inch is first admitted. to the chamber (1- until the manometer u indicates about These difive pounds pressure to the square inch..

Liquid fuel at a pressure of about ten to twelve pounds to the square inch is then admitted to the chamber by opening the valve 6 until the manometer indicates an additional pressure of about two pounds to the square inch, that is to say a total pressure of about seven pounds to the square inch. The air and liquid fuel are then con.- tinually admitted to the chamber a at about the pressures mentioned sons to maintain the pressure. of about seven pounds to the square inch within the chamber. The valve 2' in the drain pipe 2' can then be more or less opened to suit requirement. The air and liquid fuel are projected into the chamber a at an angle of say about 30 to the longitudinal axis of the chamber, so as to strike against the baflle plate It and be deflected forward and downward thereby against the lower surface of the chamber, the air and liquid fuel thus becoming intimately mixed together. Owing to the expansion of the mixture that takes place in the central and widest portion of the chamber a, the mixture loses part of its initial velocity thus giving sufficient time for the air to absorb practically all the liquid fluid it is capable of carrying. The air thus saturated with fuel, issues through the outlet' (1 where it is ignited and the fuel completely burnt, the resulting flame being projected into the furnace through the wall a" to which the chamber is secured Usually a small amount of liquid fuel will collect in the lower part of the chamber which assists in enabling the air to become saturated with the fuel. To this end, the valve 71 on the drain pipe 2 can be suitably regulated to control the rate of discharge of liquid fuel through the pipe. The length of the flame extending from the outlet or nozzle a can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the said regulating valve '5. the flame being short when the valve is fully open and long when the valve is only slightly open or completely closed. With an outlet or nozzle 1/. of a different diameter to that mentioned. the pressure of the liquid fuel and air maintained in the chamber a will usually need to be altered from that mentioned. to obtain the best results.

The chamber ('1 may be provided with means whereby its outlet or nozzle (1 can be freed from deposited carbonaceous matter from time to time. without detaching the chamber from the furnace wall 2'. Means for this purpose may comprise a plate 2: (Figs. 1 and having a projecting end portion r adapted to extend through the outlet a and edges 4: of a shape to fit the inner surface of the front end portion of the chamber a. The plate is carried by an inclined rod we that extends through a rear end portion (1. of the chamber a and a gland .r provided with packing. and is of such a length. or can be made of such a length. as by a detachable portion in secured to it, that the plate can be pushed into the forward end'of the chamber and be rotated by the rod w. tr which is provided with a suitable handle When not in use, the plate 4) is withdrawn into a position more or less above the baffle plate It so as not to interfere with the proper working of the apparatus. \Vhen the plate a is being used. the supply of liquid fuel to the chamber is cut 01f whilst the supply of air is continued. the air escaping through the outlet (1 acting to blow out any detached carbonaceous matter. The rod on. in is slightly smaller in diameter than the hole in the end portion 0" of the chamber through which it extends so as to admit of free play of the rod and plate when in use. The gland and packing serve to prevent escape of air from the chamber a. when the plate and rod are drawn back into their inoperative positions.

As an alternative. the baffle plat-e Ii may be omitted-and a cleaning plate a be used. adapted. when in its rear position. to act as the baffle against which the air and liquid fuel issuing fromthe pipes b and c respectively will impinge. Uther modifications can be made in the apparatus without departing from the essential features thereof. Thus. the inlet pipe 7). at its outer end. may be made of flared or trumpet shape. and the'outlet end of the liquid fuel supply pipe e be arranged to project within such end and form therewith an annular passage of gradually decreasing cross sectional area in a forward direction, so that the air flowing through the contracted annular passage will atomize liquid fuel issuing from the liquid fuel supply pipe. the mixture of air and fuel being projected through the outlet end portion of the pipe. 71 into the chamber a and against the baffle plate A or other abutment surface therein.

As will be understood. the apparatus hercinbefore described. has no movable parts when in operation so that when using liquid fuel of constant quality and suitably regulated in quantity at starting to produce with the air a completely eombusti ble mixture of fuel and air. the apparatus can be maintained in continuous action for long periods without attention.

What I claim is 1. The herein described method of continuously producing-an intimate mixture of air and liquid fuel for combustion in a steam-boiler or other furnace. which consists in directively causing liquid .uel and air to flow simultaneously and continuously in suitable regulated quantities so as coincidently to impinge upon a surface at an angle to the direction of flow. causing the liquid fuel to be effectually broken up and the air to become saturated therewith. the fuel saturated air being formed as a jet and burnt. while liquid fuel not talren up by the air is returned to the source of supply. substantially as described.

2. A device for producing fuel saturated air. comprising a mixing or saturating chamber provided at its rear end with an inlet opening for air and liquid fuel. an abutment surface opposite said opening, a nozzle opening for fuel saturated air at the front end of the chamber. an outlet opening intermediate its ends and at the lower side thereof for conducting surplus liquid fuel away. valve cont-rolled air and liquid fuel supply pipes arranged to deliver air and liquid fuel into the rear end of the chant her through the inlet opening therein and in a direction inclined to the abutment surface therewithin. and a drain pipe connecting with the intermediate outlet opening of the chamber. substantially as described.

3. A device for producing fuel saturated air. comprising a mixing or saturating chamber provided at its rear end with an inlet opening for air and liquid fuel, an abutment surface opposite said opening. a nozzle opening for fuel saturated air at the front end of the chamber. an outlet opening intermediate its ends and at the lower side thereof for conducting surplus liquid fuel away. valve controlled air and liquid fuel supply pipes arranged to deliver air and liquid fuel into the rear end of the chamber through the inlet opening therein and in a direction inclined to the abutment surface therewithin, with the discharge end of the air supply pipe surrounding the discharge end of the liquid fuel supply pipe, and a drain pipe connecting with the intermediate outlet opening of the chamber, substantially as described. 7

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the outlet end portion of the. air supply pipe is jointed to the rear end of the saturating chamber, substantially as described.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the abutment surface is formed by a baffle plate arranged therewithin, said surface and the air and fuel inlet pipes be ing inclined to one another, substantially as described.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a baffle plate is arranged within the saturating chamber above the drain outlet at a lower intermediate portion of its length to permit flowageof surplus liquid fuel to the drain outlet between said plate.

and the lower surface of the chamber, substantially as described.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the saturating chamber is provided with means whereby the nozzle opening in its front end can be cleared of arbonaceous deposit without removing the chamber from the furnace to which it is connected for use, substantially as described.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the saturating chamber is provided! with means whereby the nozzle opening in its front end can be cleared of carbonaceous deposit without removing the chamber from the furnace-to which it is connected for use, said means comprising a plate-like device shaped more or less to fit the inner front end surface of the chamber and nozzle opening therein and a rod whereby the device can'be moved forward in operativ position. rotated and afterward withdrawn,

substantially as described.

9. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the saturating chamber is provided with means whereby the nozzle opening in its front end portion can be cleared of carbonaceous deposit-without removing the chamber from the furnace to which it is connected for use, said means comprising a plate-like device shaped more or less to fit the inner front end surface of the chamber and nozzle opening therein, and a rod whereby the device can be moved forward in operative position, rotated and afterward withdrawn to its rearward position; said device being adapted when in its rearward position, to serve as a bafile device against which air and liquid fuel entering the rear end of the chamber can impinge, substantially as described.

10. A device for producing fuel saturated air, comprising a mixing or saturating chamber of elongated oval shape provided at its rear end with an inlet opening for air and liquid fuel, an abutment surface opposite said opening, a nozzle opening for fuel saturated air at the front end of the chamber, an outlet opening intermediate its ends and at the lower side thereof for conducting surplus liquid fuelaway, valve controlled air and liquid fuel supply pipes arranged to deliver air and liquid fuel into the rear end of the chamber through the inlet opening therein and in a direction inclined to the abutment surface therewithin,

and a drain pipe connecting with the in-- termediate outlet opening of said chamber,

substantially as described.

11. A device for producing fuel saturated air, comprising a mixing or saturating chamber of elongated substantially oval shape provided at its rear end with an inlet opening for air and liquid fuel and having external hook-like portions whereby the chamber can, by a turning movement be quickly connected to and disconnected from pins fixed to the wall of a furnace to which the device is to be applied, an abutment surface opposite said opening, a nozzle opening for fuel saturated air at the front end of the chamber, an outlet opening intermediate its ends and at the lower side thereof for conducting surplus liquid fuel away, valve controlled air and liquid fuel supply pipes arranged to deliver air and liquid fuel into the rear end of the chamber through the iniet opening therein and in a direction inclined to the abutment surface therewithin, and a drain pipe connecting with the-intermediate outlet opening of said chamber, substantially as described. 12. A device for producing fuel saturated air, comprising an elongated mixing chamber having an inlet opening in one end for air and liquid fuel, an abutment surface integrally arranged opposite said opening against which admitted air and fuel will impinge, a nozzle in the opposite end of said chamber for the emission of saturated air, an intermediate surplus fuel outlet at the bottom thereof, valve controlled air and fuel supply pipes communicating with said chamber and arranged to deliver air and liquid fuel at an angle to the abutment surface therein, a drain pipe connecting with the surplus fuel outlet of the chamber and a manometer in open communication with the latter.

Signed at Milan, Italy, this 14th day of 

